Litigation & the Judicial Process

A successful lawyer—whether a litigator or not—must master skills associated with trial, negotiation, settlement, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution—including international dispute resolution. The George Washington Law School’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program challenges students to develop and enhance the lawyering skills required for effective representation in today’s complex practice of law, while giving them opportunities to put those skills into action.

GW Law is dedicated to providing comprehensive instruction in professional skills and values, including academic opportunities in and outside the classroom for Juris Doctor degree candidates and an advanced course of graduate study in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Master of Laws Program. The curriculum complements the theoretical study of the law with actual experience in interviewing clients; drafting, preparing, and filing pleadings and motions; investigating facts; appearing before government agencies; mediating; arbitrating; and conducting trials before judges and juries. All this takes place in the heart of the Washington, DC legal community, just minutes away from dozens of important national and international organizations. That close proximity means GW Law students not only learn professional legal skills, but also use them in meaningful ways.